WE CARE FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE

UJA Federation embraces Torontonians in need at every age and life stage. Together with our network of partner agencies, we work to improve the lives of our community’s most vulnerable. We help those who live in poverty, people with mental and physical illnesses, individuals with disabilities, new immigrants, seniors, Holocaust survivors and others who might need a hand up.

Sam, a 77-year-old Holocaust survivor, walked into the Bernard Betel Centre on August 31, 2016. He shared with their staff that he had been sleeping in his car for over three months. While he previously had a successful personal and professional life, he had hit hard times over the past few years and was now also experiencing serious health issues.

A collaborative effort between the Bernard Betel Centre, Jewish Family & Child (JF&CS), the JRCC Furniture Bank, and Kehilla Residential Program, provided Sam with the immediate help he desperately needed. He received funds for his medication, found short term and then long term housing, and received a Claims Conference number so that he would be eligible for emergency funds.

Sam’s new home includes a weekly Healthy at Home program, which has allowed him to socialize and meet new friends. He now lives a fulfilling life again thanks to UJA funded community agencies. Only through this collaborative effort did our community come together so that Sam could find a new home and new hope for a better life.

(Stock photo has been used to protect the identity of the subject)

SENIOR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Over 30,000 Jewish seniors live in the Greater Toronto Area and of those, nearly one-third are Holocaust survivors. Together as a community, we care for our elderly and ensure they live their lives with dignity, through the following services and programs.

HEALTHY AT HOME

Healthy at Home focuses on creating supportive environments, building social networks and connectivity for low-income, isolated seniors in our community. The program seeks to enrich these seniors’ lives by providing recreation, socialization, cultural enrichment, health promotion, kosher meals and connections to other services, serving them where they live. Over the past four years, Healthy at Home has grown from one site to 15, and is now reaching more than 3,000 isolated seniors, of which 70% are Holocaust survivors.

UJA Federation has developed a coordinated service together with Jewish Family & Child (JF&CS) and Circle of Care for Holocaust survivors, providing access to restitution programs, emergency funds, home care, transportation and kosher meals.

Administered by JF&CS, this program provides counselling, crisis intervention, development of a safety plan, advocacy, and practical assistance to victims of domestic violence. Over 800 women and children are served annually.

Jewish Addiction Community Services (JACS) is a leading educational resource and support agency for addiction and recovery. JACS offers a variety of services and programs to individuals and families who struggle with alcohol and/or substance use.

In the last year, JACS reached out or provided support to families and more than 6,582 clients suffering from addiction to alcohol, drugs or gambling.

Jewish Free Loan Toronto offers interest-free loans to
financially-challenged individuals in the Jewish community to
meet educational and personal needs and to create business
opportunities. This past year, 232 personal, education and
business loans were provided.

The Supplementary Financial Assistance Program (SFAP),
administered by JF&CS provides financial assistance to the
Jewish poor in the GTA. The program has three components:
Supplementary financial assistance, counselling and
rehabilitation. Last year, 953 families and 1,419 individuals were
helped by SFAP.

UJA Federation ensures that the most disadvantaged members
of our community are able to celebrate Passover through gifts of
food and financial support. This past year, 600 clients of JF&CS
received Passover boxes and 738 families received financial
assistance to ensure they could celebrate the holiday with dignity.
In addition, through UJA’s Global Seder to End Hunger, 1,200
Cuban Jews receive packages of Passover foods that they are
unable to obtain otherwise.

The Chaplaincy program provides spiritual and religious care
to Jewish patients/residents of 133 hospitals, long-term care
facilities and correctional institutions. In the last year, they had
6,045 contacts with clients, family members and staff.

The Jewish Hospice Program, coordinated by JF&CS with
Baycrest, Circle of Care and Mount Sinai Hospital, offers
compassionate, home-centered programs to those with life
threatening and/or terminal illness. Last year, 103 individuals were
served.

Poverty in the Jewish community is real and has many faces, it cuts across the lifespan - it affects everyone - especially our youngest and oldest community members. Help people like Sam live a more dignified life.